Method and apparatus for packing an inflatable air bag in a housing of an air bag module assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a new and improved method and apparatus for packing an inflatable air bag cushion into a housing of an air bag module assembly of an occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle. After securing an inlet chute of the air bag cushion in the open end of the housing and placing the air bag on a flat support with a larger portion of the back wall thereof overlaying a small portion of the back wall with the front wall in between in a folded condition, a central portion of the air bag is clamped by a large blade and subsequently a first edge portion is folded over the central portion and a second opposite edge portion is folded over the first edge portion so that opposite edge fold lines extend outwardly just inside opposite ends of the housing. A rolling clamp is attached transversely across the folded air bag and the air bag is rolled-up on an axis moved toward the housing. An inverted channel element is placed over the rolled-up air bag from above and moves the air bag to a position at the open end of the housing. An outer wall of the channel element which in any upwardly retracted position causes the rolled-up bag to be inserted into the housing and a trailing end portion of the air bag is tucked into place in the housing with a tuck blade after the outer wall of the channel element is withdrawn upwardly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/412,348 filed on Mar.31, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,348.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatusfor packing an inflatable air cushion in a housing of an air bag moduleassembly of a motor vehicle restraint system. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus forfolding an inflatable air bag cushion and inserting the folded cushioninto a housing in a quick and efficient manner so that a rapid inflationof the air bag cushion can be assured when the system is activated inthe event of an emergency. The method and apparatus of the presentinvention is especially designed and adapted for use with "Pillow" typeair bag cushions which generally resemble a pillow in construction andappearance when inflated and which are suitable for use in a passengerside air bag module assembly.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Kitagawa et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,070 discloses an air bag device for aknee of an occupant in a vehicle adapted to extend transversely of thevehicle when inflated in front of the occupants' legs from a locationoffset from the center of the occupant. Opposite longitudinal ends ofthe air bag cushion are first folded over onto a bag surface opposite abag filling inlet which is located off center with respect to the ends.Longitudinally extending side portions of the air bag cushion are nextfolded over onto the same bag surface followed by successive foldingover of both of the opposite end portions of the bag toward the fillinginlet bag.

Kuretake et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,126 discloses a specially folded airbag cushion and inflator of circular outline having a central fillingopening and a pair of eccentric vent openings on a side opposite anoccupant cushioning surface. From a flat position with the cushioningsurface on top, an edge portion of the bag is folded over along a linein one direction so that the vent openings face upwardly and a portionof the edge portion away from the vent openings is folded over to coverthe same. Thereafter an opposite edge portion of the bag is folded overin similar fashion followed by folding over opposite portions of the bagfrom opposite ends along lines generally normal to the first directionso that the air bag will initially fill along the first direction andthereafter along the second direction. The air bag is finally put into apleated condition in the housing.

Fischer U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,435 discloses an air bag cushion which isfolded into a pleated condition from both top and bottom portions andhas a first folded portion which pivots and moves sideways as the airbag cushion inflates to direct the vehicle occupant to one side. The airbag cushion is folded to create side pleats which are tucked to theinside of the air bag cushion which is rolled up from both ends.

Webber U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,341 discloses a method of folding an air bagcushion wherein each side is folded twice with all four foldsoverlapping and then is rolled for insertion into the module housingwith a flap positioned over the roll.

Bollaert U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,061 discloses a folded air bag cushion thatis tucked up from the bottom inside the air bag cushion and thenpleated, rolled, or a combination of pleating and rolling action is usedto bring in the sides.

Wehner et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,282 discloses an air bag foldingtechnique wherein an air bag cushion is pleated from the bottom, thenfolded and pleated horizontally and inserted into the housing. Thepleats along vertical lines do not overlap from opposite sides but meetadjacent the center.

Zelanak, Jr. et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,675 discloses an air bag foldingtechnique wherein the sides are pleated inwardly and the side pleatedbag is then rolled up for insertion in the module housing.

McArthur U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,954 discloses a method of folding aninflatable restraint cushion for storage in a support housing wherein anoverlying top sheet and an underlying bottom sheet of the cushion areplaced in a taut condition between the housing and an imaginary lineparallel thereto. A portion of the top sheet is successively movedtoward the housing so as to form a series of overlying pleated sectionswhich are progressively shorter in length and eventually rotating thepleated cushion as a unit into a cavity of the housing.

Wullbrecht U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,477 discloses an air bag cushion which isrolled up to create a bubble which acts as a restraint to prevent suddenupward movement during inflation as successive rolled up layers areinflated resulting in a smaller frontal mass first moving into contactwith the occupant.

Kornas et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,947 discloses apparatus for tucking androlling a vehicle occupant air bag cushion which is clamped undertension while tucked from the ends and then is rolled up.

Bell U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,396 discloses apparatus for forming a rolledtubular fabric article.

Putti et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,948 discloses apparatus for rolling avehicle occupant air bag into a stored condition including a pair ofcarriers for clamping an air bag on opposite sides of a diffuser andmovable toward the diffuser to roll up opposite portions of the bag.

Kelley U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,407 discloses a folded air bag having a firstportion with a plurality of folds in stacked relation providing asurface area for engaging a vehicle occupant upon air bag inflation anda second portion with a plurality of folds in stacked relation providinga surface for engaging the vehicle windshield.

Baker U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,035 discloses a bag folding system in whichpleats are created on the sides of an airbag, these pleats are thentucked inside the air bag cushion, and the cushion is rolled up tocreate a final bag pack.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod and apparatus for packing an inflatable air bag cushion in ahousing of an air bag module assembly mounted in a motor vehicle forproviding a restraint system for an occupant.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod and apparatus for folding an inflatable air bag cushion andinserting the folded cushion into a housing of an air bag module in aquick and efficient manner to insure that a proper rapid inflation ofthe air bag cushion will take place when an emergency occurs.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method and apparatus of the character described in theforegoing objects especially designed and useful with "pillow" type airbag cushions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved method of folding an inflatable air bag cushion in a mannerresulting in a desirable air bag deployment pattern while the air bag isinflated upon an emergency.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method of folding an inflatable air bag cushion which reducesthe number of pleats and the cushion pack volume required, and whichenables automatic folding equipment to be used and begin rolling of thebag at any point along the length thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method of folding an inflatable air bag cushion which reducesthe amount of automated equipment needed for the folding process.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method for packing a pillow type inflatable air bag cushioninto a housing of an air bag module assembly of a motor vehiclepassenger restraint system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus for packing a pillow type inflatable air bag cushion into ahousing of an air bag module assembly of a motor vehicle passengerrestraint system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod and apparatus for packing a passenger side inflatable air bagcushion into a passenger side air bag module assembly for a motorvehicle restraint system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare accomplished in a new and improved method for packing a pillow typeair bag cushion into a passenger side air bag module assembly having ahousing for holding an inlet chute of the air bag with front and backwall portions of the bag in a folded and rolled-up condition ready forinflation in an emergency. After insertion and securing of the inletchute portion of the air bag cushion from an open end of the housing,the front and back walls are laid out over a relatively flat support infront of the open end of the housing. A larger lower portion of the backwall of the air bag cushion is placed in overlying relation over asmaller portion of the back wall with the front wall of the air bag inbetween the back walls in a folded condition central portion of the laidout air bag cushion extends outwardly in front of the housing and isclamped and held tightly against the support by a large centrallydisposed holding blade. Pairs of elongated narrow clamping blades inspaced parallel relation on opposite sides of the large central holdingblade are secured to and extend along opposite edge portions of the laidout air bag.

A first pair of the narrow clamping blades with an edge portion of thebag held therebetween is moved transversely inwardly toward and over thelarge central holding blade. This movement forms first a fold line ofthe air bag aligned just inside a first end wall of the housing and anopposite second fold line just inside an opposite second end wall of thehousing. A second pair of the narrow clamping blades with an oppositeedge portion of the bag held therebetween is moved transversely inwardlytoward the large central holding blade and over the folded opposite sideportion of the air bag thereby forming a fold line overlying the secondfold line and aligned just inside a second end wall of the housing.

The large central holding blade and the pairs of narrow side clampingblades are all released and moved away from the folded air bag cushion,which now resembles an elongated multi-layer tongue projecting outwardlyfrom the open end of the housing and having folded opposite side edgeportions aligned just inside and projecting outwardly of opposite endwalls of the housing.

A pair of narrow, clamping blades extending transversely to thetongue-like configuration of the folded air bag cushion are secured toclamp the air bag at a position along the length thereof preferably nearthe outer end. The transverse clamping and rolling blades are thenrolled about an axis aligned therewith moving toward the open end of thehousing to roll up the tongue-like configuration of the folded air baginto a roll approaching the housing. An inverted channel shaped elementis moved down over the rolled-up air bag and the transverse clamping androlling blades are then withdrawn. The channel element is then movedtoward the open end of the housing until an inside wall of the elementis adjacent the outer edge of its housing, leaving a trailing outer endportion of the partially rolled-up air bag cushion extending outwardlyof an outer wall of the channel element. The outer wall of the channelelement is maintained at this level in contact with the trailing outerend portion of the air bag as the inside wall is drawn upwardly to openup the open end of the housing. The outer wall of the channel element isthen moved toward the housing to force the rolled-up air bag cushioninside. Finally, a tuck blade is moved upwardly from below to fold thetrailing outer end portion of the air bag upwardly against the outerwall of the channel element, which is then withdrawn upwardly so thatthe tuck blade may move toward the open end of the housing to force theremaining trailing end portion of the air bag inside the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should behad to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical cross-sectional view of a passengercompartment of a motor vehicle having an inflated air bag cushiontherein which has been packed into a housing of an air bag assemblymodule in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 butillustrating the air bag cushion in a deployed inflated condition forrestraining a vehicle occupant.

FIG. 3 is side elevational view of a pillow type air bag cushion in aninflated condition.

FIG. 4 is a view of a pattern of a back wall of the air bag cushion ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of a pattern of a front wall of the air bag cushion ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view illustrating a housing of an air bag moduleassembly with a pillow type air bag cushion secured therewith and laidout in a flat support.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken substantially along lines 7--7 ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating in somewhatanimated fashion, portions of folding apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention for clamping and folding the air bag cushion.

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially alonglines 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the air bagcushion and apparatus after folding of one edge portion of the air baghas been completed.

FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially alonglines 11--11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating the air bagcushion and apparatus after folding of an opposite edge portion of theair bag has been completed.

FIG. 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially alonglines 13--13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view illustrating the housing and air bag cushionwith another portion of the apparatus for rolling-up the folded air bagcushion.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 15--15of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 14 illustrating the air bagcushion in a partially rolled-up condition.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 17--17of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 16 illustrating the air bagcushion after engagement by a channel element form above for moving ofthe partially rolled-up bag toward a position adjacent the open end ofthe housing.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 19--19of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 18 illustrating the air bagcushion and channel element in position adjacent the open end of thehousing.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 21--21of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 20 illustrating the partiallyrolled-up air bag cushion after insertion into the open end of thehousing by an outer wall of the channel element, which element is abovethe housing.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 23--23of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 22 illustrating the air bagcushion having a trailing end portion engaged by a tucking blade andforcing into an upright condition against the outer wall of the channelelement.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 25--25of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 24 illustrating the air bagcushions in a fully inserted position in the housing, and

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 27--27of FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in FIGS. 1-2 isillustrated a motor vehicle 30 having a passenger compartment 32 foraccommodating a person 34 in seated position on a vehicle seat 36.Forward of the occupant 34, the vehicle 30 includes a dashboard 38 and apanel 40 having an enlarged air bag deployment opening 42 spaceddirectly above an air bag inflator module assembly 44 including ahousing 46 fixedly mounted in place beneath the panel 40 directly belowthe air bag deployment opening 42 and containing a gas generator 48adjacent an inner portion thereof. An air bag 50 in deflated conditionis stored and contained within the housing 46 until deployed asillustrated in FIG. 2 to protect the vehicle occupant 34 or passengerfrom injury in an accident. The panel opening 42 is normally closed by amovable cover 52, which normally forms part of the upper surface of thepanel 40 above the panel opening 42. When the air bag 50 is inflatedduring a crash or emergency and expands rapidly outwardly, the cover 52is rapidly moved away from the panel opening 42 permitting the expandingair bag to rapidly inflate as shown in FIG. 2. When air bag deploymentoccurs, the cover 52 is restrained by a tether 54, to preventinadvertent damage or injury to the passengers 34 or other portions ofthe passenger compartment 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the air bag cushion 50 is fully inflated, in afree condition without encountering obstruction such as the windshield56 of the vehicle 30 the air bag shape generally resembles theconstruction and shape of a common pillow and accordingly, air bagcushions of this type have become known as "pillow" type air bagssuitable for use on the passenger side of a vehicle. The "pillow" typeair bag 50 includes an inlet or filling chute 58 of generallyrectangular or oval transverse cross-section open at the inner end toreceive gas flow through an open end 60 of the housing 46 from the gasgenerator 48 when deployment occurs. The outer end of the inlet chute 58is joined to a generally rectangular shaped panel or back wall 62 (FIG.4) formed of thin, flexible, sheet material by means of a line ofstitching 64 or other adhesive means extending around a generallyrectangular filler opening 66 positioned above a mid level end of thepanel between a small upper segment or wall portion 68a and a largersized lower segment or wall portion 68b below a dividing line 71abetween the back panel segments.

The "pillow" type air bag 50 includes a front panel or wall 70 alsoformed of thin flexible sheet material having a size and shape similarto that of the back panel 62 and joined thereto around the periphery bylines of stitching 72a and 72b or other adhesive means above and belowthe dividing line 71b. The front panel 70 and/or the back panel 62 maybe provided with a pair of relatively smaller circular vent holes 74 inthe smaller upper segment 68 on opposite sides of the large rectangularfiller opening 66 to facilitate deflation of the air bag cushion 50after deployment has taken place. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 & 5, boththe back panel 62 and front panel 70 have rounded upper corners 76 androunded lower corners 78 matching one another. Either or both panelsegments 70a and 70b of the front panel 70 are adapted to engage andcushion or restrain the vehicle passenger 34 as shown in FIG. 2 toprevent injury when an emergency occurs and the air bag cushion 50 israpidly inflated in deployment.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the inlet chute 58 of the air bagcushion 50 is inserted into the housing 46 from the open end 60 and isretained in place by a pair of rod-like holding elements 80 insertedinto pockets provided at the inner end of the inlet chute and secured inlarger grooves formed in opposite sidewalls of the housing on the innersurface in a manner known in the art. The air bag cushion 50 is laid outflat on a support platen 82 and arranged with the large segment 68b ofthe back wall 62 in overlying relation above the smaller segment 68awith the front wall 70 sandwiched in between as shown in FIG. 7 with thelarge segment 70b of the front wall overlying the small segment 70a. Inthe laid out position, the lower portion of the stitching line 72b ispositioned outwardly and parallel of the back panel dividing line 71aand above and outwardly of the upper portion of the stitching line 72a.The dividing line 71b is spaced inwardly of the stitching lines 72b an72a and comprises a fold line of the front wall 70 of the air bagcushion 50 spaced outwardly from the open end 60 of the housing 46.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a relatively large size, central clampingblade 84 having opposite side edges 84a and 84b is positioned above acentral portion of the air bag cushion 50 extending outwardly of theopen end 60 of the housing 46 between opposite end walls 46a and 46d.The clamping blade 84 is moved downwardly to clamp and hold the centralportion of the air bag cushion 50 against the flat upper surface of thesupport platen 82 (dotted lines FIG. 8), which platen is generallyrectangular in shape. Opposite outer side edge portions 50a and 50b ofthe clamped air bag cushion 50 project transversely outwardly beyondopposite side edges 82a and 82b of the platen 82 so that pairs of rightand left hand long narrow clamping blade assemblies 86L and 86R, cangrip and hold the opposite side edge bag portions at a level adjacentthe level of the support platen 82 as shown in FIG. 9. Each clampingblade assembly 86L and 86R includes an upper blade 88 and a lower blade90 and the blades are relatively long and narrow and are alignedtransversely outwardly on opposite sides of the larger central clampingand holding blade 84 in parallel therewith as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and9.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, after the opposite edge portions 50aand 50b of the air bag cushion 50 have been clampingly engaged by bothof the clamping blade assemblies 86L and 86R, the right hand clampingblade assembly 86R is moved upwardly and transversely to the left asshown by the arrow A in FIG. 11, until the right hand edge portion 50bof the air bag cushion 50 is in a position overlying the large centralclamping and holding blade 84. The right hand clamping blade assembly86R is moved past the left hand edge 84a of the large central blade 84.In this position, a major portion 50b1, of the right hand edge portion50b overlies the upper surface of the central clamping blade 84 forminga fold line 92 around the right hand edge 84b that is parallel to andslightly inwardly of a line extending outwardly of the right hand endwall 46b of the housing 46. A narrow portion 50b2 of the right hand edgeportion 50b of the air bag cushion 50 overlies a marginal edge portionof the central blade 84 along the left hand edge 84a forming a fold line94 parallel to the fold line 92 and positioned just inside a lineextending outwardly of the left hand end wall 46a of the housing 46.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the left hand clamping blade assembly 86Lis moved upwardly and transversely to the right as shown by the arrow Cin FIG. 13 until the left hand edge portion 50a of the air bag cushion50 is in a position overlying the large central clamping blade 84 aswell as the folded portions 50b1, and 50b2 of the right hand edgesportion 50b. The left hand clamping blade assembly 86L is moved past theright hand edge 84b of the central clamping blade 84. In this position,a major portion 50a1 of the left hand edge portion 50a of the air bagcushion overlies the central clamping blade 84 as well as the portions50b1, and 50b2 of the right hand edge portion 50b forming an outer foldline 96 slightly outwardly of and parallel to the fold line 94.

A narrow portion 50a2 of the left hand edge portion 50a of the air bagcushion 50 overlies a marginal edge portion of the large central blade84 along the right hand edge 84b forming a fold line 98 slightlyoutwardly of and parallel to the fold line 92. When the side edgeportions 50a and 50b of the air bag cushion 50 have been folded asdescribed, the large central clamping blade 84 and the narrow clampingblade assemblies 86L and 86R are withdrawn leaving the air bag cushionin a side folded condition as described comprising an edge folded tongue100 projecting outwardly of the open end 60 of the housing.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, theelongated tongue-like projection or tongue 100 comprising the partiallyfolded-up air bag cushion 50 as shown in FIGS. 11-15, extends directlyoutwardly of the open end 60 of the housing 46 while resting on theplaten 82. In this condition, the tongue 100 has a transverse widthdimension W which is less than the wall to wall clearance between theopposite end walls 46a and 46b of the housing 46. The tongue 100 has alongitudinal dimension or length L measured from the open end 60 of thehousing 46 to an outer end E (FIG. 14) and at any point along the lengthL, the extended tongue 100 may be clamped by a rolling clamp assembly102 having a pair of elongated, narrow, opposite clamping blades 104extending transversely across the length of the tongue. The rollingclamp assembly 102 may be applied to clamp the tongue 100 at any pointalong the length L thereof and preferably as shown in FIG. 14, theclamping blades 104 are applied at a position outwardly of an adjacentouter edge 82c of the support platen 82.

After transverse clamping engagement on the tongue 100 near the end Ethe rolling blades 104 are turned or rolled in a clockwise direction asshown by arrow F in FIG. 15 and move to the right as indicated by thearrow G toward the open end 60 of the housing 46. This causes the tongue100 of the folded air bag cushion 50 to be rolled-up in clockwisefashion as viewed in FIG. 17 until reaching a position wherein thepartially rolled-up tongue is a distance L1, away from the open end 60of the housing 46 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. An invertedchannel-shaped open bottom, holding container 106 is moved downwardly(arrow H) onto the partially rolled-up air bag to prevent unrollingaction from taking place, and then in this position the rolling blades104 of the rolling clamp assembly 102 are withdrawn from the partiallyrolled-up folded air bag cushion 50 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The holding or roll-containing, inverted channel-shaped element 106(channel element), includes a vertical inner wall 108 directly facingthe housing 46 and normal to the support platen 82, a horizontal web 110parallel and facing the platen 82, fixedly attached to the inner walland an outer vertical wall 112 parallel of the inner wall and relativelymovable in a vertical sense with respect to the web and the inner wall.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, after the channel element 106 is in placeon the partially rolled-up tongue 100 of the air bag cushion 50, thechannel element is moved in a horizontal direction toward the housing 46as indicated by the arrow J until the inner wall 106 is closely adjacentto the open end 60 of the housing. As this movement takes place atrailing portion 100A of the tongue 100 is left on the platen 82projecting outwardly beyond the outer wall 112 of the containing channelelement 106.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the inner wall 108 and the web 108 of thechannel element 106 are elevated upwardly and moved to the right abovethe housing 46 as indicated by the arrow K in FIG. 23. However duringthis elevation, the outer wall 112 remains at the same level and forcesthe partially rolled-up air bag cushion 50 into the open end 60 of thehousing 46 between the upper and lower side walls thereof. Furthermovement of the channel element 106 to the right is stopped when theouter wall 112 engages the edge of the upper sidewall of the housing 46along the open end 60 of the housing 46 as shown in FIG. 23. In thisposition, a trailing end portion 100A of the tongue 100 of the air bagcushion 50 still remains outside of the open end 60 of the housing 46.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, a vertical tuck blade 114 is rotatedupwardly as indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 25, causing the trailingend portion 100A of the tongue 100 of the air bag cushion 50 to berotated upwardly against the outside surface of the outer wall 112 ofthe channel element 106. Thereafter as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 theouter wall 112 of the channel element 106 is withdrawn upwardly and thetuck blade 114 is moved horizontally as indicated by the arrow M againstthe remaining trailing end portion 100A of the air bag cushion 50 tocomplete the full insertion of the folded and rolled-up air bag into thehousing 46 from the open end 60 thereof.

The folding, rolling and insertion method and apparatus in accordancewith the present invention is easy and quick and results in a favorabledeployment pattern of the air bag cushion 50 during rapid inflation inan emergency. The folding action described reduces the number of pleatsand the air bag cushion pack volume and enables automated equipment tobe efficiently employed. The rolling action effected by the blades 104may be commenced at any point along the length L of the folded-up tongue100 and the number and the components complexity of equipment requiredis reduced resulting in an extremely fast and efficient method and meansfor packing a "pillow" type inflatable air bag cushion in a housing ofan air bag module assembly.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. Apparatus for packing an inflatable air bag restraint cushion into a housing of an air bag module assembly for a motor vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:platen means for supporting said air bag cushion laid in a substantially flat position extending outwardly of an open end of the housing secured to an inlet chute of said air bag; holding blade means for clamping a central portion of said air bag adjacent to said platen means between opposite fold lines formed along opposite side edge portions of said air bag projecting outwardly of the open end of the housing inside opposite end walls thereof; folding blade means for gripping opposite side edge portions of said air bag and moving the same to overlie said central portion and one another along their length to form said opposite fold lines; and rolling blade means extending transversely across said folded air bag for rolling-up the air bag about an axis moving toward the open end of the housing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:said folding blade means comprises a pair of clamping and folding assemblies extending along opposite side edges of said holding blade means, each assembly including a pair of elongated, narrow upper and lower blades movable to clasp said air bag therebetween and thereafter moveable from one of said side edges upwardly above said holding blade means and transversely across the same toward an opposite side edge.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:said rolling blade means includes a pair of elongated, narrow blades for clamping engagement with said folded air bag and rollable about a longitudinal axis while rolling up said air bag moving toward said open end of the housing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, including;containment means for engaging said air bag in a partially rolled-up condition formed by said rolling blade means for preventing said air bag from unrolling when said rolling blade means is withdrawn from engagement with said air bag prior to reaching said open end of the housing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:said containment means comprises an inverted channel element having opposite walls for engaging from above said partially rolled-up air bag and moving the same toward said open end of the housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:one of said opposite walls of said containment means is retractable relative to the other of said walls when adjacent said open end of the housing, while the other wall is spaced apart from said open end of the housing for permitting said other wall to move said partially rolled-up air bag into said housing from said open end when said one side wall is retracted.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:said opposite side walls of said containment means have an edge spaced above said platen means to leave a trailing end portion of said air bag extending away from said partially rolled-up portion thereof when said channel element is move toward said open end of the housing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, including:tuck blade means adjacent said open end of the housing for folding said trailing end portion of said air bag toward said partially rolled-up portion thereof already positioned in said housing.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinsaid tuck blade means is movable toward said open end of the housing for inserting said trailing end portion into said housing from said open end after said other wall of said containment means is retracted.
 10. Apparatus for packing an inflatable air bag restraint cushion into a housing of an air bag module assembly for a motor vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:a platen for supporting said air bag cushion laid in a substantially flat position extending outwardly of an open end of the housing with an inlet chute of said air bag secured to said open end; a central holding blade for clamping a central portion of said air bag adjacent to said platen between opposite fold lines formed along opposite side edge portions of said air bag extending outwardly of the open end of the housing inside opposite end walls thereof; a first folding blade for gripping one of said opposite edge portions of said air bag and moving the same transversely inward to overlie said clamped central portion and form one of said opposite fold lines extending outwardly from and inside one of said opposite end walls of said housing; a second folding blade for gripping the other of said opposite edge portions of said air bag and moving the same transversely inward to overlie said clamped central portion as well as said folded opposite edge portion along its length and form the other of said opposite fold lines extending outwardly from and inside the other of said opposite end walls of said housing; and, a rolling blade extending transversely across said folded air bag for rolling-up the air bag about an axis moving toward the open end of the housing after said holding blade and first and second folding blades are withdrawn from engagement with said air bag.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:said air bag cushion is a pillow-type air bag cushion comprising joined together front and black panels, with said back panel including said inlet chute positioned between a smaller back panel portion and a larger back panel portion; and, said air bag cushion is laid out on said platen with said larger portion of said back panel folded over in overlying relation with said smaller portion on said platen with said front panel sandwiched therebetween.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:said first and second folding blades each comprise a clamping and folding assembly extending along opposite side edges of said central holding blade, each assembly including a pair of elongated, narrow upper and lower blades movable to clasp said air bag therebetween and thereafter moveable from one of said side edges upwardly above said central holding blade and transversely across the same toward an opposite side edge.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:said rolling blade includes a pair of elongated, narrow blades extending transversely across said folded air bag for clamping engagement with said folded air bag at a variable point along the length thereof and rollable about a longitudinal axis while rolling up said air bag moving toward said open end of the housing.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, including:a holding container for engaging said air bag in a partially rolled-up condition formed by said rolling blade for preventing said air bag from unrolling when said rolling blade is withdrawn from engagement with said air bag before reaching said open end of the housing and for packing said partially-rolled up air bag into said housing.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:said holding container comprises an inverted channel element having opposite walls for engaging from above said partially rolled-up air bag and moving the same toward said open end of the housing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:one of said opposite walls of said holding container is retractable relative to the other of said walls when adjacent said open end of the housing, while the other wall is spaced apart from said open end of the housing for permitting said other wall to move said partially rolled-up air bag into said housing when said one side wall is retracted.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:said opposite side walls of said holding container have an edge spaced above said platen to leave a trailing end portion of said air bag extending away from said partially rolled-up portion thereof when said inverted channel element is moved toward said open end of the housing.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, including:a tuck blade adjacent said open end of the housing for folding said trailing end portion of said air bag toward said partially rolled-up portion thereof already positioned in said housing.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, whereinsaid tuck blade is movable from below upwardly toward said housing for inserting said trailing end portion into said housing from said open end after said other wall of said containment means is retracted.
 20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:said first and second folding blades respectively form said opposite fold lines just inside said opposite end walls of said housing.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:said rolling blade clamps said folded air bag near an outer end. 